New anti-bullying program launched in Amanda Todd's home town Port Coquitlam

Kevin Griffin, Vancouver Sun11.26.2012

Cyberbullied teen Amanda Todd, whose suicide made headlines around the world, led an active online life. These photos appear to have been posted in 2009.
/ Vancouver Sun

www.iamsomeone.ca home page is the online component of the new Port Coquitlam program to combat bullying.

People place candles during a memorial for Amanda Todd in Surrey, B.C., Friday, Oct. 19, 2012. Community activists in Port Coquitlam announced today a new anti-bullying program called Be Someone.JONATHAN HAYWARD
/ THE CANADIAN PRESS

Carol and Amanda Todd. Amanda killed herself in October 2012 after years of being bullied. Community activists in Port Coquitlam announced today a new anti-bullying program called Be Someone.Handout
/ Files

Vancouver B.C. November 5, 2012 Carol Todd’s (Amanda Todd’s Mum) spoke this afternoon in Burnaby during a trade show with mothers on the dangers of cyber bullying on November 5, 2012. Community activists in Port Coquitlam announced today a new anti-bullying program called Be Someone.Mark van Manen
/ Vancouver Sun

A group of prominent British Columbians launched a campaign Wednesday calling on Facebook to introduce security measures to protect underage children ...

METRO VANCOUVER - Amanda Todd’s hometown of Port Coquitlam is introducing a multi-pronged anti-bullying campaign called Be Someone and an accompanying bylaw.

Announced Tuesday, the day Todd would have turned 16, the campaign includes a community awareness program, online resources for victims of bullying and for bullies who want to change their behaviour, and education for parents on recognizing signs of bullying.

Be Someone was created with the idea that any community in Canada could adapt its provisions to suit local conditions, said Gary Mauris, the program’s founder.

Mauris grew up in Port Coquitlam. He is the founder and president of Dominion Lending Centres, a national mortgage and leasing company based in Port Coquitlam.

Getting the program launched, Mauris said, has required six or seven staff at his company’s head office working almost full time for the past month.

Asked how much his company has spent on Be Someone, Mauris said: “A lot. That’s a personal thing for us. I would say that our contribution has been significant at this point. I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

Mauris said he was moved to do something when he saw the clip in the final video call for help by Todd which said “I have nobody, I need someone.”

He said his daughter Marisa, who turns 16 next month, talks with him about the bullying that goes on in her Port Moody high school.

“It’s pervasive, it’s violent, it’s insidious. I think it is getting worse,” he said in a phone interview.

“Somebody has to step out and say ‘I’m someone’ and I’m going to lead this thing. You lead it. but you soon learn very quickly (that) you become a very small cog in it. It has become a tidal wave.”

Carol Todd, Amanda’s mother, said she thought the program was a great idea.

“I think it is about time that the community had the initiative to start something like this. I think it’s really beneficial. Our youth are our future generation. We have to protect them.”

She said it means the world to her to have a program of the calibre of Be Someone start in the community where she has lived since 1990.

“My kids were born and raised here. Their friends are here their sports are here. It means so much to have a community rally for a cause – and to know that it was my little girl who sparked it.”

Amanda Todd was the Port Coquitlam teenager who committed suicide in October after living with years of bullying online and in person.

RCMP Sgt. Peter Thiessen said the investigation into Todd’s death continues, with a team of officers focused on it. No one has been charged and Thiessen would not say whether police have identified persons of interest.

The Be Someone website is www.iamsomeone.ca.

Other Be Someone initiatives include a bullying help ‘text messaging’ platform which is being built and the inaugural Snowflake Walk fundraising event on Dec. 9.

The program already has a visible presence in Port Coquitlam. Be Someone/I Am Someone window decals are being distributed to businesses and public places. There are also Be Someone T-shirts and wristbands.

On Dec. 10, Port Coquitlam council plans to introduce an anti-bullying bylaw, said Mayor Greg Moore.

Modelled after a similar bylaws in Regina and Edmonton, the Port Coquitlam bylaw will prohibit bullying in a public place or online. Unlike other jurisdictions, where the bylaw only applies to those 18 and younger, the Port Coquitlam bylaw has no age limit. Instead of paying the fine, an offender will be able to take a certified anti-bullying program.

“The ultimate goal is to give help to the people who are bullying,” Moore said. “I believe when someone is bullying that there is something else going on in their life. Maybe family life isn’t good or school situation isn’t good. For some, it’s crying out for help.”

Other organizations that have helped with Be Someone are Port Coquitlam Youth Society, RCMP, School District 43 and Kids Help Phone.